Locking device



April 1,1952 J. w. SEELE 2,590,896

LOCKING DEVICE Filed Sept. 19, 1950 I3 ,10' 2a 2/ 25/: IO

/// Illl IIIIIIWW INVENTOR.

JEAN W 55545.

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 1, 1952 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE LOCKING DEVICEJean W. Seele, Topeka, Kans.

Application September 19, 1950, Serial No. 185,668

14 Claims.

My invention relates to locking devices, and more particularly to alocking device for securing a demountable wheel to a hub.

The principal object of my invention is to pro-.-

vide a quickly and easily demountable wheel in which no nuts must beremoved, and to secure the wheel tightly to the hub without using theusual studs and nuts and without relying on friction to prevent rotationof th wheel with respect to the hub.

- More specifically my invention hasfor its purpose the securement ofthe demountable portion of the wheel to the hub portion thereof by meansof a plurality of spring fingers that are fixed to the hub portion andadapted to be interlocked with the demountable portion of the wheel, buthave a normal tendency to move out of such interlocked position. Thisinterlocking is preferably accomplished by providing the spring fingerswith enlarged ends, one of which is fixed bywelding, or in any otherdesired manner, to the hub portion and the other of which is adapted toenter the enlarged end of a keyhole slot in the demountable portion ofthe wheel, with a narrow neck portion between said enlargements, whichis adapted to cooperate with the reduced portion of the keyhole slot.

The arrangement is such that when the spring fingers are'engaged inlooking position in the keyhole slots, said fingers will each have theenlargement atone end thereof seated in the enlarged end of a keyholeslot and the enlargement at the other end thereof in face to faceengagement with the outer face of the demountable portion of the wheel.This position of the Spring finger is obtained by means of clampingmeans, such as threaded members extending from the hub portion throughopenings in said last mentioned enlargements and nuts engaging saidenlargements that are in engagement with said threaded members, but arenot removable therefrom, means being provided to prevent such removal.

It is a further purpose of my invention to provide an apparatus of theabove mentioned character, in which the nuts that act to clamp thespring fingers in looking position only have to be turned one or twocomplete turns to permit movement of said spring fingers to a releasingposition, and vice versa, approximately only one or two turns to movesaid spring fingers into locking position, and in which said spring fingers act as nut locking means.

With my .device the number ofcap screws or studs used to mount the Wheelon the hub may be reduced, and since the stud nuts are never removed,they can not be misplaced. The advantage of my device over similardevices using a keyhole arrangement for wheel mounting is that frictionbetween the Wheel and the hub is not relied upon to prevent relativerotation, but instead a positive lock is provided. Becauseof the fewturns required to loosen the stud nuts enough to remove the wheel thechanging process is greatly speeded up and simplified.

other objects and advantages of my invention will appear as thedescription of the drawings proceeds. I desire to have itunderstood-however, that I do not intend to limit myself to theparticular details shown or described, except as defined in the claims.

In the drawings: j I Fig. l is a side elevation, partly broken away,showing the outer portion of a wheel attached rigidly to the hubportion.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly broken away,- showing the outerportion of a wheel loosened from the hub and rotated for removal.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of the outer portion ofa wheel completely removed from the hub.

Fig. i shows one of the spring fingers in elevation. v

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section through one of the spring fingers andclamping means in the loosened position, prior to rotation of the outerwheel portion to removing position, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section through one of the spring fingers andclamping means in wheel clamping position.

My improved locking device is shown in Fig. l as applied to an outerportion IU of a Wheel and an inner or hub portion ll of a wheel. Anannular series of locking devices, indicated gener ally by the numerall2, are provided for attaching the outer portion of the wheel ID rigidlyto the hub portion H. The locking devices l2 consists of spring fingersl3 mounted rigidly by welding 25, or other means, on the hub portion llof the wheel, and clamping means consisting of studs l4 and nuts l5.Keyhole slots l8 areprovided in the outer portion 10 of the wheel. Thespring finger [3, as shown in Fig. 4, has enlarged'ends It and I1.Rotation of the outer portion I 0 of the wheel is prevented by a snugfit of the enlarged portion l6 of the spring finger 53. in the enlargedend I9 of the keyhole slot 18 when the parts are in the position'shownin Figs.

1 and 6. The outer portion iii of the wheel and the hub portion H areclamped in face to face I outer wheel portion 3 relation by the nuts Iand the studs I4 and the enlarged ends ll of the spring fingers I3 whenthe parts are in this position.

As shown in Fig. 1, with the outer portion ID of the wheel in theclamped position on the hub I I, the studs I4 pass through the narrowportion 20 of the keyhole slot I8. The enlarged portion ll of the springfinger I3 is of larger diameter than the width of the narrow portion 20of the keyhole slot I8, thus clamping the outer wheel portion to the hubportion in cooperation with the studs I4 and nuts I5. An offset 2| isprovided in the reduced neck portion 22 of the spring finger I3. Thisreduced neck portion 22 is of substantially the same width as the narrowportion 20 of the keyhole slot so that this narrow neck portion 22 canproject through the slot and locate the enlarged portion I! of thespring finger in a position for clamping engagement with the outerportion III of the wheel.

In'Fig. 2 the outer portion II) of the wheel is shown in rotatedposition from that shown in Fig. 1 with respect to the hub portion II.In order to rotate the outer portion II) of the wheel to this positionthe stud nuts I5 must be loosened a few turns to unclamp the enlargedportion I! of the spring finger I3 from the face of the outer portionIII of the wheel. The stud I4 is of substantially the same size as thenarrow portion of the keyhole slot I8 to allow the stud I4 to passlengthwise through the narrow portion of the keyhole slot as the outerwheel portion I0 is rotated between the positions shown in Figs. 1 and2. In the position shown in Fig. 2 the outer wheel portion I0 can beremoved because the enlarged end I9 of the keyhole slot is substantiallylarger than the enlarged portion H of the spring finger I3.

Assho'Wn'in Fig. 3, the outer portion III of the wheel is completelyremoved from the hub II. The narrow portions of the keyhole slots I8 areshown slightly curved about the center of the wheel to provide forrotation of the outer portion III of the wheel onthe hub I I and stillmaintain a minimum of clearance between the studs I4 and the narrowportions of the slots 20. Similarly, as shown in Fig. 4, the neckportion 22 of the spring finger I3 is also slightly curved on an axisabout the center of the wheel to exactly fit the keyhole slots I8. Also,as shown in Fig. 4, the enlargement ll of the spring finger I3 isprovided with an elongated opening 23, through which the stud I4 passesto allow for upward movement of the enlargement I1 as the spring fingerI3 is moved to its unclamped position.

' As shown in Fig. 6, the enlarged portion I! of the spring finger I3 isclamped to the side face of the outer wheel portion III by the stud I4and nut I5. To prevent complete removal of the nut I5 from the stud I4the threads are distorted at 24. In the clamped position the springfinger I3 acts as a lock washer to exert a constant pressure on thethreads of the stud I4 by the nut I5.

As shown in Fig. 5, the enlargement I! of the spring finger I 3 is inunclamped position, but the ID remains in unrotated position. vWhen thewheel portion I0 is moved to the position indicated by I0 in Fig. 4,enough to-clear the spring finger I3 it may be rotated to thezpositionas shown in Fig. 2 for removal from the hub portion II.

In .the operation of my device, the nuts I5 are loosened several turnsfrom the studs I4, as shown in Fig. 1, to unclamp the enlargements I!from the face of the outer wheel portion I0. The

outer wheel portion ID may then be moved away from its face to faceengagement with the hub portion II until it will clear the enlarged endI6 of the spring finger I3. The outer wheel portion Ill may then berotated counter-clockwise to the position shown in Fig. 2. Theenlargement ll of the spring finger I3 being smaller than the enlargedend I9 of the keyhole slot I8, the outer wheel portion In can then becompletely removed. To engage and clamp the wheel to the hub the aboveprocedure is reversed, the nuts I5 being screwed down on the studs I4after the outer wheel portion I0 has been engaged with the hub portionII, and turned to the position shown in Fig. 1, to bring the springfingers I3 into the position shown in Fig. 6. This looks the outer wheelportion I0 firmly face to face against the hub portion II and alsoagainst rotation relative thereto.

What I claim is:

1. Means for looking a pair of members in face to face engagement, oneof said members having a keyhole slot therein, comprising a springfinger on the other member having enlargements on opposite ends thereofand a reduced portionconnecting said enlargements, and. clamping meanson said other member engaging said finger to hold the same ininterlocking engagement with said slot and in engagement with one faceof said first mentioned member.

2. Means for looking a pair of members in face to face engagement, oneof said members having a keyhole slot therein, comprising a springfinger on the other member having enlargements on opposite ends thereofand a reduced portion having an offset therein connecting saidenlargements, and clamping means on said other member engaging saidfinger to hold the same in interlocking engagement with said slot and inengagement with one face of said first mentioned member.

3. Means for looking a pair of members in face to face engagement, oneof said members having a keyhole slot therein, comprising a springfinger on the other member having enlargements on opposite ends thereof,one of said enlargements being of such size as to fit the enlarged endof said keyhole slot, and a reduced portion of such width as to fit thenarrow portion of said keyhole slot connecting said enlargements, andclamping means on said other member engaging said finger to hold thesame in interlocking engagement with said slot and in engagement withone face of said first mentioned member.

4. Means for locking a pair of members in face to face engagement, oneof said members having a keyhole slot therein, comprising a springfinger on the other member having enlargements on opposite ends thereofand a reduced portion con-' necting said enlargements, and clampingmeans comprising a stud and nut on said other member engaging saidfinger to hold the same in in terlocking engagement with said slot andin engagement with one face of said first mentioned member.

5. Means for looking a pair of members in face to face engagement, oneof said members having a keyhole slot therein, comprising a springfinger on the other member having enlargements on opposite ends thereof,one of said enlargements being of such size as to fit the enlarged endof said keyhole slot and the other enlarge.- ment being smaller than theenlarged end of said keyhole slot, and a reduced portion connecting saidenlargements, and clamping means on said other member engaging saidfinger to hold the same in interlocking engagement with said slot and inengagement with one face of said first mentioned member.

6. Means for looking a pair of members in face to face engagement, oneof said members having a keyhole slot therein, comprising a springfinger on the other member having enlargements on opposite ends thereof,one of which is provided with an elongated opening, and a reducedportion connecting said enlargements, and clamping means on said othermember comprising a stud adapted to project through the narrow portionof said keyhole slot and through said elongated opening, and a nut onsaid stud to hold the finger in interlocking engagement with said slotand in engagement with one face of said first mentioned member.

7. Means for locking the outer portion of a wheel to the hub portionthereof, said outer portion being provided with an annular series ofkeyhole slots, comprising an annular series of spring fingers on saidhub portion each having enlargements on opposite ends thereof and areduced portion connecting said enlargements, and clamping means on saidhub portion engaging said fingers to hold the same in interlockingengagement with said slots and in engagement with one face of the outerportion of the wheel.

8. Means for locking the outer portion of a wheel to the hub portionthereof, said outer portion being provided with an annular series ofkeyhole slots, comprising an annular series of spring fingers on saidhub portion each having enlargements on opposite ends thereof and areduced portion connecting said enlargements, and clamping meanscomprising studs and nuts on said hub portion engaging said fingers tohold the same in interlocking engagement with said slots and inengagement with one face of the outer portion of the wheel.

9. Means for locking the outer portion of a wheel to the hub portionthereof, said outer portion being provided with an annular series ofkeyhole slots, comprising an annular series of spring fingers on saidhub portion each having enlargements on opposite ends thereof and areduced portion having an offset therein connecting said enlargements,and clamping means on said hub portion engaging said fingers to hold thesame in interlocking engagement with said slots and in engagement withone face of the outer portion of the wheel.

10. Means for locking the outer portion of a wheel to the hub portionthereof, said outer portion being provided with an annular series ofkeyhole slots, comprising an annular series of spring fingers on saidhub portion each having enlargements on opposite ends thereof, one ofsaid enlargements being of such size as to fit the enlarged ends of saidkeyhole slots, and a reduced portion connecting said enlargements ofsuch width as to fit the narrow portions of said keyhole slots, andclamping means on said hub portion engaging said fingers to hold thesame in interlocking engagement with said slots and in engagement withone face. of the outer portion of the wheel.

11. Means for locking the outer portion of a wheel to the hub portionthereof, said outer portion being provided with an annular series ofkeyhole slots, comprising an annular series of spring fingers on saidhub portion each having enlargements on opposite ends thereof, one ofsaid enlargements being of such size as to fit the enlarged ends of saidkeyhole slots and the other enlargement being smaller than the enlargedends of said keyhole slots and a reduced portion connecting saidenlargements, and clamping means on said hub portion engaging saidfingers to hold the same in interlocking engagement with said slots andin engagement with one face of the outer portion of the wheel.

12. Means for locking the outer portion of a wheel to the hub portionthereof, said outer portion being provided with an annular series ofkeyhole slots, comprising an annular series of spring fingers on saidhub portion each having enlargements on opposite ends thereof, one ofwhich is provided with an elongated opening, and a reduced portionconnecting said enlargements, and clamping means on said hub portioncomprising studs each adapted to project through the narrow portion of akeyhole slot and through an elongated opening, nuts on said studs tohold the fingers in interlocking engagement with said slots and inengagement with one face of the outer portion of the wheel.

13. Means for looking a pair of members in face to face engagement, oneof said members having a keyhole slot therein, comprising a springfinger on the other member having enlargements on opposite ends thereofand a reduced portion connecting said enlargements, and clamping meanscomprising a stud and nut on said other member engaging said finger tohold the same in interlocking engagement with said slot and inengagement with one face of said first mentioned member, said studhaving means thereon holding said nut against removal.

14. Means for locking the outer portion of a wheel to the hub portionthereof, said outer portion being provided with an annular series ofkeyhole slots, comprising an annular series of spring fingers on saidhub portion each having enlargements on opposite ends thereof and areduced portion connecting said enlargements, and clamping meanscomprising studs and nuts on said hub portion engaging said fingers tohold the same in interlocking engagement with said slots and inengagement with one face of the outer portion of the wheel, said studshaving means thereon holding said nuts against removal.

JEAN W. SEELE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 437,276 Bauer Sept. 30, 18902,077,567 Orr Apr. 20, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 164,029Great Britain July 8, 1920 105,706 Sweden Oct. 13, 1942

